Tool with closing mechanism and method of manufacturing preferably plastic parts with hinges

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a procedure and a mechanism for the production preferably of plastic objects with hinges ( 3 ), one-component as well as multicomponent objects, as well as the closing of these. This can take place in a single tool, as the objects are being molded in one with a turnable middle section ( 5 ) provided tool, where the in the tool finish-molded object, with the hinge ( 3 ) in an open position and with the object still placed on the turnable middle section ( 5 ), is turned further forward against a new station together with the turnable middle section ( 5 ), while or whereupon one or more for the purpose serving mechanism(s) closes the hinged object to its final position in one or more rounds before or during the ejection of the closed object from the tool. The invention e.g. can be used on a flip lid ( 2 ), which is molded together with a hinge ( 3 ) and the stationary part ( 1 ) of the object. This flip lid ( 2 ) can be closed firmly on the stationary part ( 1 ) of the object by means of a closing mechanism ( 8 ), and possibly supplemented by the closing movement of the molding tool, after the procedure and mechanism according to the invention.

The invention relates to a procedure and a mechanism for the productionpreferably of plastic objects with hinges, one-component as well asmulti-component objects, as well as the closing of these.

The hitherto described procedures and mechanisms for the production ofplastic objects with in-molded hinges, which are to be closed in thetool, have had various defects and disadvantages. This is tried resolvedby the procedure and mechanism according to the invention. Hereby thereis in addition obtained a series of advantages and simplifications ofthe hitherto known molding- and follow-up-processes, which radicallywill be able to reduce the total cycle time and consequently the priceof the finished objects.

The invention is characterized by the fact, that the object is beingmolded in a with, at least one turnable mold part supplied tool, wherethe in the tool finish-molded object, with the hinge placed in theposition as it exists by the molding, e.g. normally open, and with theobject still placed on the turnable middle section, it turns furtherforward against at least one new station together with the tunablemiddle section, while or whereupon a for the purpose serving mechanismcloses the hinged object to its final position in one or more stagesbefore or during the ejection of the object from the tool.

The table middle section of the tool preferably has a cross section,which is designed as a regular polygon, suitably a square. This squareconveniently can have the corners rounded, so there will be requiredless opening of the tool in order to turn the middle section around. Forthe same reason the middle section can suitably, instead of being a bigsection, be split up into two or more turnable mold parts. Besides asquare or an adjusted square the cross-section of the turnable mold partcan be designed as a regular polygon, where two opposite sides areoctagon or another preferably regular polygon, where two opposite sidesare parallel. In this way there will by the tuning arise 2, 4, 6, 8 etc.stations, where/in between where there can exist filling, assembling,ejection and other kinds of handling of the molded objects.

The different applications and advantages by the procedure and themechanism according to the invention are mentioned further under thedescription to the drawing, where

FIG. 1 shows a tool according to the invention seen from above in closedcondition in the first station,

FIG. 2 shows the same in open condition still in the first station,

FIG. 3 shows the same in open condition during the taming towards thesecond station,

FIG. 4 shows the same in open condition situated in the second station,

FIG. 5 shows the same in closed condition at the second station,

FIG. 6 shows a principle sketch of another tool according to theinvention seen from above, and

FIG. 7 shows a principle sketch of a third tool according to theinvention, where there at the same time is molded from two oppositeplaced sides as in a sandwich tool.

In FIG. 1 is shown a tool according to the invention seen from above inclosed condition with two molded objects, each comprising a stationarypart (1) and (1′), which is connected with a movable part, here beingmade out of a flip lid (2) and (2′), which in one end has a hinge (3)and (3′), that also is connected to the stationary part (1) and (1′).The lowest placed object has just been molded in the tool between itsstationary part (4) and the turnable middle section (5) as well as themovable mold-part (6). The uppermost object is completely finish-moldedand ready for ejection, just as it is remarked, that the flip lid (2′)of the uppermost object and its belonging hinge (3′) are closed firmlyon the stationary part (1′). Contrary to this the on the lowest objectjust molded flip lid (2) with its belonging hinge (3) is situated infully opened condition, that is in an angle of 180 degrees in relationto the stationary part (1) due to mold technical considerations. On thefigure is furthermore shown the movable mold part (6), an inlet channel(7) in the stationary mold part (4), plus the special closing mechanism(8), here shown in withdrawn position.

FIG. 2 shows the same tool open, whereby the finished object with thenow in a closed condition placed flip lid (2′) with its belonging hinge(3′) just has been ejected from the turnable middle section (4). Thestationary part (1) of the molded object is still firmly placed on theturnable middle section (5), while the movable part with its flip lid(2) with its belonging hinge (2) still is in the position in which itwas molded.

FIG. 3 shows the same tool still open, but where the turnable middlesection (5) is during turning. The special closing mechanism (8) ishereby driven forward until contact with the flip lid (2), which herebyis turned around with the hinge (3) about to be closed against thestationary part (1) of the object.

In FIG. 4 the turnable middle section (5) of the same tool has arrivedto the next station, still with the tool in open position. The specialclosing mechanism (8) is back against its start position outside thespace between the two mold-parts (4) and (6). The flip lid (2) is nowclosed almost completely down against the stationary part (1) of theobject.

On FIG. 5 is seen the same tool in closed condition after the completionof a total molding cycle. Seen in comparison with FIG. 1 the turnablemiddle section (5) is turned 180 degrees forward from its startposition. The lowest mold cavity is now formed between the stationarymold part (4) on one side and the turnable mold part (5) and the movablemold part (6) on the other side, and is ready for receiving a newportion of molding material through the inlet (7). The uppermost objectnow has got the flip lid (2) closed firmly against the stationary part(1) of the object by assistance of the closing movement of the tool andis now ready for being ejected, when the tool opens again, when a newcycle takes its beginning as the turnable middle section (5) is turnedfurther forward against its start position.

FIG. 6 shows a principle sketch of another design of a tool according tothe invention, where the closing of the movable part of the objectagainst the stationary part of the object takes place in the positionnamed as B, e.g. by means of a robot or another closing mechanism, whichis not shown on the figure, at the same time as the tool is closed andoccupied in molding a new object in the position named as A.

FIG. 7 shows a principle sketch of a third design of a tool, where therehere with the mold closed are molded from two opposite placed sides asin a sandwich tool in the two positions named as A, simultaneously with,both on the top and on the bottom of the figure by means of robots orother closing mechanisms, which are not shown at the figure, are takencare of that the two simultaneously molded objects movable andstationary part are closed firmly against each other in the twopositions named as B.

1. Procedure and mechanism for the production preferably of plasticobjects with hinges (3), one-component as well as multi-componentobjects, as well as closing of these, characterized by the fact, thatthe object is being molded in a with at least one turnable middlesection (5) supplied mold, where the in the tool finished molded object,with the hinge (3) positioned in the position in which it is made by themolding, that is normally open, and with the object still placed on theturnable middle section (5), is turned further forward against at leastone new station together with the turnable middle section (5), while orwhereupon one or more for the purpose serving mechanism(s) close(s) thehinged object into its final position in one or more stages before orduring the ejection of the closed object from the tool.
 2. Procedure andmechanism as mentioned in claim 1, characterized by the fact, that the(closing) mechanism (8) handles the finished molded subject preferablybetween two stations, that is while the turnable middle section (5)turns from one position to another.
 3. Procedure and mechanism as in oneor more of the other claims mentioned, characterized by the fact, thatthe mechanism (8) is situated stationary or linear movable in relationto the movable middle section (5), as it utilizes the force from theturning of the middle section for moving the hinge (3) and itsappendage, e.g. in the shape of a flip lid (2).
 4. Procedure andmechanism as in one or more of the other claims mentioned, characterizedby the fact, that the closing of the hinge (3) on the stationary part(1) of the object preferably takes place in two steps, this means thatyou first closes the hinge (3) with its belonging flip lid (2) partly bymeans of the mechanism (8), and then e.g. in connection with the closingbefore the final ejection of the finished object from the mold gets thehinge (3) with its flip lid (2) pressed firm on the stationary part ofthe object (1).
 5. Procedure and mechanism as in one or more of theother claims mentioned, characterized by the fact, that the finalclosing of the hinge (3) with its flip lid (2) on the stationary part ofthe object (1) takes place in connection with the ejection of the objectfrom the tool by utilizing the force from the ejection system. 6.Procedure and mechanism as in one or more of the other claims mentioned,characterized by the fact, that the final closing of the hinge (3) with(its) flip lid (2) on the stationary part of the object (1) takes placein connection with the final closing movement of the tool, whereupon theejection of the finish closed object occurs when the tool opens again.7. Procedure and mechanism as in one or more of the other claimsmentioned, characrerized by the fact, that the closing of the hinge (3)with its flip lid (2) takes place in a position, which is positioned inan angle with the closing direction of the tool, that amounts to 90degrees, 60 degrees and/or 120 degrees.
 8. Procedure and mechanism as inone or more of the other claims mentioned, characterized by the fact,that the closing of the hinge (3) with its flip lid (2) takes place in asandwich tool, preferably at the same time on two opposite placed sidesof the turnable middle-section (5), where a molding does not take place.9. Procedure and mechanism as in one or more of the other claimsmentioned, characterized by the fact, that there with the mold closedare molded from two opposite positioned sides as in a sandwich tool, atthe same time as there in the same cycle on at least two preferablyopposite placed sides by means of robots or other closing mechanismsoccurs a closing of the molded objects.
 10. Procedure and mechanism asin one or more of the other claims mentioned, characterized by the fact,that the mechanism (8) or at least one of the closing mechanisms (8) intheir against the flip lid (2) faced part are supplied with a wheel oranother kind of rolling mechanism that eases the closing.